Workstation arrangement for laboratories, production facilities and the like

ABSTRACT

Arrangements for forming working areas or workstations equipped with supply connections for power, gaseous and/or liquid media, communication connections and monitoring connections and the like, in laboratories, production locations and the like, wherein all supply means are combined in fixedly mounted connecting devices while the actual working surfaces are formed by selectable working and standing position elements that can be freely set up and grouped as desired, with respect to the connecting devices. The position elements are free of any connections. Discharge or removal of the media is also effected by way of a system which is laid out in accordance with a predetermined pattern. Additional removal or discharge elements may be arranged in a row with the working and standing position elements or alternately the removal or discharge devices may be incorporated into the connecting devices.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY-SPONSOREDRESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Research and development of the present invention and application havenot been Federally-sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federalprogram.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to arrangements for forming working positions orworking areas which are equipped with supply connections for power,gaseous and/or liquid media, and for communications, monitoring and thelike, in laboratories, production locations, testing and research areas,and wherein there are provided on the one hand, table-like, stand-likeand/or cupboard-like working and standing position elements, and on theother hand connecting devices which are spatially associated with theworking and standing position elements but which are mounted separatelytherefrom, for the supply of power, gaseous and/or liquid media, and forcommunications, monitoring and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under37 CFR §§1.97-1.99

German Patent specification No. 1 690 171 discloses rail-like combinedconnecting devices for supplying terminal or take-off points inhospitals, laboratories and the like, with electrical power, gases andliquids, and which can be adapted in respect of their length,configuration and arrangement to the particular requirements of spaceand position, for example the spacings between beds, the dimensions ofthe laboratory benches and the like. Column-like connecting devices forvarious supply and discharge systems for corresponding use in hospitals,laboratories and the like are disclosed in European patent specificationNo. 58819. However, those known rail-like and column-like combinedconnecting devices suffer from the disadvantage that they can only bedesigned for a limited number of supply and discharge systems.Therefore, in regard to use in laboratories, production locations, testareas and research areas, they only represent a supplement to thelaboratory benches and the like which are themselves fitted with supplyand discharge systems. In particular, the known combined connectingdevices are not suitable for procedures involving a high level of purity(gas and liquids), for compressed gas procedures, and for measuring andfiltering operations, or they cannot be easily adapted for such use. Inaddition, the known combined connecting devices, such as for existinglaboratory benches fitted with supply and discharge systems, lack safetyin that there is the risk of explosion due to an accumulation ofexplosive gas-air mixtures within the cavities formed in the knownconnecting devices and associated laboratory benches.

In laboratories, changes in the tasks to be performed frequently occur,which make it necessary to alter the supply and discharge systems, forexample alterations in the delivery of and controlled removal of otherkinds of gases. In addition, changes in the tasks to be performed oralterations in the development or investigation task involved requiremodification of the form and the size of the working surfaces andstanding surfaces required. Such modifications generally cannot bereadily achieved with the known laboratory benches which carry and guidesupply and discharge systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior workstation arrangementsare largely obviated by the present invention, which has for one objectthe provision of a novel and improved workstation which is both simplein construction, and is characterized by a high degree of flexibilityand adaptability to different types of installations, having widelyvarying configurations.

A related object of the invention is to provide an improved workstationas above set forth, wherein essentially all of the electrical supply andcontrol circuitry, and pressure fluid media lines and connectionsassociated therewith are isolated, and confined to a rail-likeconnecting device in the form of a conduit, such that there areminimized potential hazards normally associated with such electricalcircuitry and with flammable or explosive gases.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedworkstation of the kind indicated, wherein workbenches or work tablesare, for the most part, completely separate from the rail-likeconnecting devices, thereby enabling such benches to be readily shiftedor re-positioned, to suit varying space and functional requirements.

The above objects are accomplished by an arrangement for forming workingpositions equipped with supplies for power, fluid media, communications,monitoring and the like, adapted for use in laboratories, productionlocations, testing and research areas wherein there are provided on theone hand workbench elements and on the other hand connecting deviceswhich are spatially associated with the workbench elements but which aremounted separately therefrom, for the supply of power, fluid media,communications, monitoring and the like, comprising conduit means havinga determinate structural configuration, elongate supply devices forcarrying electrical energy and for transporting fluid media, and forproviding communications or monitoring, carried in the conduit means,and a plurality of workbench elements which are disposed adjacent to,and which are free of the elongate supply devices. The conduit means andthe elongate supply devices that are provided therein for power, fluidmedia, communications and monitoring, are capable of variousconfigurations applicable to the particular laboratory, production, testor research task. The conduit means is fixedly mounted in a working areain accordance with a predetermined pattern, and the work bench elementsare capable of being independently freely set up and grouped in adesired manner and pattern with respect to selected portions of theconduit means, to thus form working station which is useful inconnection with the said task.

The problem solved by the invention is to provide arrangements forforming working positions or working areas which are equipped withsupply connections and in regard to which there is a high degree offlexibility both in respect of the available supply connections forpower, gaseous and/or liquid media, and for communications, monitoringand the like, and also in regard to the working and standing surfaces tobe provided. At the same time the invention provides improvements insafety and visibility at the working position or working area.

More particularly, the problem solved by the invention is the following:

1. All supply devices and supply connections for power, gaseous and/orliquid media, communications, monitoring, etc. are combined in theconnecting devices while the working and standing position elements arefree of supply means and supply connections.

2. The connection devices are of a variable configuration with respectto the supply means and supply connections provided, as regards power,gaseous and/or liquid media, communications, and monitoring, etc., forease of adaptation to the respective working, investigation, developmentor research task.

3. The connecting devices are fixedly mounted in a working space orworking area in accordance with a predetermined pattern while theworking and standing position elements can be freely set up or groupedin a predetermined, desired manner and number in the vicinity of aselected part or region of the connecting device, to form a working andstanding position which is suited to the respective working,investigation, development or research task.

The invention does not just permit flexible adaptability of therespective working and standing position to the respective work to becarried out thereat, but it also provides optimum adaptation of theworking and standing position to be formed, to lighting conditionsprevailing in the respective working area or space. If lightingconditions which already exist in the working space or area are found tobe inadequate for the intended purposes, the arrangement of theinvention provides improved lighting conditions by means of lamps whichcan be mounted on the connecting devices in a known manner or which canbe integrated into the connecting devices (see German Patentspecification No. 1 690 171). The fact that all supply systems arecombined together in the combined connecting device means that it ispossible to achieve substantial improvements in safety, in a simple buthighly effective manner. For example, a suction extractor means providesfor constant venting of the spaces within the connecting device therebypreventing the formation and accumulation of explosive gas-air mixtures,toxic and/or corrosive vapors, and the like. As the working and standingposition elements provided in accordance with the invention, unlikeconventional laboratory furniture, are kept entirely free of supply anddischarge systems, there is also no longer any danger of hazardous mediabeing formed in or accumulating in cavities in such working and standingposition elements.

In accordance with the invention, the necessary supply means and theconnections thereof, in particular the discharge means for gaseousand/or liquid media, may be fixedly mounted in a similar manner to theconnecting means for the supply, and in a fixed pattern in the workingposition or working area. In that case, the working and standingposition elements are freely set up or grouped at the same time, both inregard to the selected part or region of the connection devices and alsoin regard to the selected part or region of the removal means.

In one embodiment of the invention, the removal means may be combinedwith the connecting devices for supply purposes. In that arrangement, onthe one hand the supply means and the connections thereof, and on theother hand the removal means and the connections thereof, may bearranged in two separate planes, and the working and standing positionelements may be freely set up or grouped as desired in regard to thosetwo planes. An arrangement which is to be considered in that respect isone in which there are provided a supply plane above the working andstanding surface defined by the working and standing position elements,and a removal plane disposed substantially in or below the working andstanding surface.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, theconnecting devices include column-like connecting portions which, intheir upper parts, include supply means with installation connections inthe upper endregions of the column and which contain in their lowerparts, removal means with installation connections in the lower endregions of the column.

Furthermore, by the invention the connecting devices can includesubstantially horizontally extending rail-like connecting portions alongwhich the working and standing position elements can be freely set up orgrouped. In that arrangement, the working and standing position elementsmay additionally have members which are displaceable along substantiallyhorizontal guides, wherein the guides of said displaceable members maybe oriented and/or mounted in substantially parallel relationship to therail-like connecting portions. For example, carriages and the like canbe located on substantially horizontal guides, and movable on rollers.By such an arrangement, measuring and diagnostic or test equipment maybe moved along an established working and standing position to a desiredlocation and, after having been used, may be removed again from the areaof the working and standing position. In the embodiment of the inventionin which there are provided horizontally extending rail-like connectingportions, it is particularly advantageous for additional working lampsto be disposed in or on the rail-like connecting portions in spacedrelation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail hereinafterreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a module distribution layout for a working areaor workstation constructed in accordance with the invention,illustrating both a "comb-like" and a "T-shaped" arrangement ofrail-like connecting devices, and further illustrating relativepositions of a number of workbenches disposed beneath the rail likeconnecting devices.

FIG. 2 illustrates a modified distribution layout, having the form of a"parallel" configuration, incorporating two rows of workbenches, and asingle rail-like connecting device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a further modified distribution lay out, havingworkbenches arranged in two facing "U-shaped" configurations, showingone rail-like connecting device.

FIG. 4 illustrates a still further modified distribution layout, havingworkbenches arranged in four "islands", each island containing twoworkbenches.

FIG. 5 illustrates still another type of distribution layout, having"islands" formed by multiple workbenches.

FIG. 6 shows yet another type of distribution layout, this alsocomprising islands formed by multiple workbenches.

FIG. 7 shows a further modification, wherein the workbenches arearranged in line with and below a single rail-like connecting device.

FIG. 8 illustrates an additional construction, characterized by amodified "square ring" configuration of workbenches and rail-likeconnecting device.

FIG. 9 shows another construction, incorporating a group of workbenchesand rail-like connecting device disposed in an angular configuration.

FIG. 10 illustrates a workstation incorporating workbenches andrail-like connecting devices arranged in the shape of the letter "H".

FIG. 11 shows a workstation incorporating workbenches and rail-likeconnecting devices arranged in the shape of the letter "T".

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an example of a group of workbenchesand rail-like connecting devices arranged in a horseshoe or U-shapedconfiguration.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an example of a group of workbenchesand rail-like connecting devices also disposed in a horseshoe orU-shaped configuration, except that the rail-like connecting devices aresomewhat modified.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 12,illustrating the locations of planes that contain certain elements ofthe workstation, and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 14, of a modifiedworkstation having connecting devices of a column-like nature, and whichare equipped with both supply means and removal means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIG. 12 and in accordance with the present inventionthere is provided a novel and improved workstation facility for use inlaboratories, production lines, testing and research areas, and thelike, comprising substantially horizontally extending rail-likeconnecting devices 11a which are fixedly mounted in a pendent orsuspended fashion, as for example, being suspended from the ceiling of aroom, the rail-like connecting devices 11a containing conduits carryingelectrical power, communication lines and/or monitoring system lines,control and measuring system lines and the like. The rail-likeconnecting devices 11a also include conduits for gaseous and liquidmedia, hereinafter also referred to as fluid media. In addition,connecting elements belonging to various ones of the above systems aremounted on the rail-like connecting devices 11a. Further by theinvention, there are provided working and standing position elements 14such as workbenches, that are intended to be freely set up and groupedbeneath the rail-like connecting devices 11a, and underneath the pathsof movement of carriages 13, in accordance with a particular choice andrequirement of a given installation.

Referring now to FIG. 12, three rail-like connecting devices 11a areconnected together to define a "U-arrangement" and are fixedly mountedin the horizontal position by means of carriers 17, more specificallyhanging-type suspension carriers, suspended from the ceiling (not shown)of a room. The connecting devices 11a have connecting elements 21, forexample plugs and sockets for the supply of electrical energy,electrical connecting elements or devices 22 for low-voltage currentsystems such as communications systems, monitoring systems, controlsystems and the like, connecting devices 23 for the supply of fluidmedia and for selective pressure-regulated supply of fluid media of thelast-mentioned devices, the figure shows operating knobs 24 and pressureindicating instruments 25. Elements 21, 22 and 23 constitute supplydevices

Removal or discharge connections are installed in the floor of theworking area beneath the corner regions of the "U arrangement" of theconnecting devices 11a. In that connection FIG. 12 shows the cover plate26 on the floor.

For the purposes of making up the "U-arrangement" of rail-likeconnecting devices 11a, this embodiment has a "U-configuration" oflaboratory benches or tables 14a, wherein respective discharge orremoval elements 15 are arranged in the corner regions of theU-configuration The elements 15 contain removal or discharge devicessuch as suction discharge pumps, drains for liquids and the like, saiddischarge or removal devices being connected to the dischargeconnections that are installed in the floor.

As FIG. 12 shows, the laboratory benches 14a of the "U-configuration"may be used for setting up pieces or items of equipment 27, with an areaof working surface 28 preferably being kept free. If additional piecesor items of equipment 27 are required, it is also possible to provideadditional racks or stands 14b (see FIG. 3) and/or carriages 13 whichare movable along the rail-like connecting devices 11a (see FIG. 1).

Referring again to FIG. 12, in order to make it possible to operate withgases or liquids of high purity, the rail-like connecting devices 11aare provided with connecting means for filters 29, at least at a part ofthe conduits which are carried in the connecting devices. Moreover, therail-like connecting devices 11a are of such a design and configurationthat, in regard to the electrical lines and cOnduits disposed therein,they can be easily adapted, with minor modifications, to the particularrequirements dictated by the operations to be performed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the workstation facility has fiveupstanding column-like connecting devices 11b which in their respectiveupper portions contain the conduits and electrical lines required forthe provision of power, communications, control means, gaseous andliquid media. At the upper end of the connecting devices 11b theabove-mentioned conduits and electrical lines are connected in theregion of the ceiling of the room or an intermediate or false ceiling,to the corresponding installation components of the building. Groups ofconnecting elements 30 for electrical connections such as the supply ofpower, control lines and the like are provided on each connecting device11b above the working and standing surface formed by laboratory tablesor benches 14a. Furthermore, there are groups of connections 31 for theprovision of gaseous and liquid media. In the embodiment of FIG. 13,each connecting device 11b carries a transverse rail or bar 32 spacedfrom the floor of the working area which approximately corresponds tothe height of a man, and above the working surface. Arranged on thetransverse member 32 are further electrical connecting elements 33,adjusting devices 34, and indicator devices 35 associated withpressurized fluid media, such as gaseous and liquid media to besupplied.

The connecting devices 11b extend to the floor of the working area. Inits lower portion each connecting device 11b contains discharge orremoval devices and removal or discharge connections 36. In the interiorof the respective connecting device 11b these lead to discharge orremoval installations that are laid in the floor.

The laboratory tables or benches 14a and the rack or stand elements 14bare freely set up and grouped in a horseshoe arrangement or a"U-configuration" between the connecting devices 11b. The connectingrail members 32 may preferably be fitted selectively to any one of thefour sides of each column-like connecting device, and can therefore bemoved from the mounting configuration shown in FIG. 13, to one side orthe other of each column-like connecting device 11b. The groups ofelectrical connections 30 and connections 31 for gaseous and liquidmedia may be arranged on all sides of the column-like connecting devices11b.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of the workstation facilityof FIG. 12, and which incorporates horizontally mounted rail-likeconnecting devices 11a with electrical connections 21 and 22,connections 23 for gaseous and liquid media, and a working position lamp37 carried by the rail-like connecting device 11a, as an element forproviding suitable lighting of the working position. Elements 21, 22 and23, as well as lamp floor B. A group of such elements forms a supplyplane V which is disposed at a spacing above the working plane A definedby the partially set-up working and standing position elements 14.Formed in the working plane A or beneath same, as shown in FIG. 14, is aremoval or discharge plane E from which removal or discharge occurs.Those removal or discharge devices, for example suction removal devicesand the like, which extend over the working plane A in the region of theworking position, are connected into the system in the plane E.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of another embodiment, inwhich column-like connecting devices 11b are provided in a fixedassembly in the working area. The electrical connecting devices 30 andthe connections 31 for the provision of gaseous and liquid media arearranged in a supply plane V above the working plane A formed by theworking and standing position elements 14. A removal or discharge planeE is formed beneath the working plane A, with the connections 36 to theremoval or discharge units disposed in the lower portion of thecolumn-like connecting devices 11b. In this case also, removal ordischarge devices which join the connections 36 may extend upwardlyabove the working plane A at the working position. From the connections36, the removal or discharge devices disposed in the lower portion ofthe column-like connecting devices 11b extend into the floor B, toremoval or discharge installations I laid therein. That is of particularadvantage where the vertically disposed connecting devices 11b rest onthe floor B and are anchored therein. As FIG. 15 shows, the verticallyextending connecting devices 11b may also be fitted with a lamp 38 forillumination of the working positions, in the region of the plane V,with the position of the lamp 38 being adjustable.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of a facility having workbenches orwork stations of the type shown in FIG. 12, in which there aresubstantially horizontally extending rail-like connecting devices 11that are fixedly mounted, being suspended from the ceiling (not shown)of the room. The connecting device 11 contain the conduits for carryingelectrical power, for communication systems and monitoring systems, andfor control and measuring systems, and the like. The rail-likeconnecting devices 11 also include conduits for gaseous and liquidmedia. In addition, the connecting elements 21, 22 and 23 of FIG. 12belonging to the various systems are mounted on the rail-like connectingdevices 11. The rail-like connecting devices 11 can be adapted to meetthe widely varying requirements in respect of electrical power,communications, monitoring, measuring and control systems. Electricallines and conduits are laid in a suitable number and selection in theinterior of the rail-like connecting devices 11 and are taken by way ofthe carrier elements thereof to the installation means which are laid inthe building. The gaseous and liquid media are introduced into therail-like connecting devices 11 within which they are conveyed, atdifferent pressures, for example more than 2 to 4 bars, by way ofsuitable pipe conduits. In the rail-like connecting devices 11a,adjustable pressure reducing devices may be provided so that each usercan establish a desired pressure setting at the connecting portion thathe is using. The connecting devices 11 further include connecting meansfor the filters 29 and other devices which are to be selectivelyintroduced into the flow of the gaseous and liquid media.

As shown in FIG. 1, mounted at least along a part of the rail-likeconnecting devices 11 are horizontal guides 12 on which cantilevercarriages 13 are suspended and are thus displaceable as desired alongthe respective rail-like connecting devices 11. Items of equipment suchas measuring instruments and the like may be carried on the carriages13, which are moved to the desired location and which can be connectedto portions of the connecting devices 11.

The working and standing position elements 14 can be freely set up andgrouped beneath the rail-like connecting devices 11 and underneath thepaths of movement of the carriages 13, in a desired pattern or plan.FIG. 1 indicates by way of a square pattern, the options in regard tosetting up and grouping the elements 14. Other options are shown inFIGS. 2 to 11.

The upper part of FIG. 1 shows a "comb-like" arrangement of rail-likeconnecting devices 11 while the lower part of Fig . 1 shows an "angular"arrangement and a "T-shaped" arrangement of two rail-like connectingdevices 11. Where the rail like connecting devices 11 are joined to eachother at right angles, there is afforded a high concentration ofconnection portions. In addition, removal or discharge means may befixedly installed beneath the connecting devices 11 on the floor of thelaboratory, production location or the like, at locations between or atthe particular working and standing position elements 14. Such dischargemeans are connected to a fixed removal or drainage installation in thebuilding.

FIG. 2 shows a "parallel set-up" configuration. For that purpose, arespective row of working and standing position elements 14 ispositioned along each of the two longitudinal sides of a rail-likeconnecting device 11, in parallel relationship thereto, in such a waythat there is a passage or gangway 16 left between the two rows, beneaththe rail-like connecting device 11. As the connecting device 11a ismounted at a spacing from the floor which approximately corresponds tothe height of a man, it is possible to walk along the gangway 16 inorder to carry out maintenance on the equipment which is set up on theelements 14 and in such a way to permit connection of those items ofequipment to the connecting device 11.

As indicated in FIG. 2, removal or discharge elements 15 may be arrangedbetween the working and standing position elements 14, for examplelaboratory tables or benches, which have been kept free of any supplymeans and removal or discharge means. The elements 15 contain suitabledischarge or removal means such as liquid drainage means, gas extractormeans and the like, and can be connected to installations systems whichare laid in the floor of the room. The gangway 16 formed between the tworows of elements 14 may also be used at the same time a path of movementfor one or more cantilever carriages which are suspended beneath therail-like connecting device 11a and which are movable therealong. Theguide for the carriage or carriages may then be mounted under theconnecting device 11 on the carriers or supports 17 thereof (FIG. 12),for example hanging carriers.

FIG. 3 shows another arrangement of working and standing positionelements 14 in relation to a rail-like connecting device 11, moreparticularly a "square configuration". At each end region of therail-like connecting device 11 is a U-shaped group of laboratory tablesor benches 14a, wherein the closed portion of the group is disposedbelow the respective end region of the rail-like connecting device 11.Disposed at the open ends are respective working and standing positionelements in the form of a stand or rack 14b for physically largeanalysis equipment and the like. As in the case of the embodiment shownin FIG. 2, a gangway 16 is formed by the interior of the U-shapedarrangements, beneath the rail-like connecting device 11. The gangway 16can be used for the same purposes as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2,and is open by way of access gangways 18 formed between the two U-shapedgroups. As the connecting device 11 can be mounted at a spacing from thefloor which approximately corresponds to the height of a man, a singleaccess gangway 18 would also be sufficient. It would therefore bepossible, at one side of the "square configuration" shown in FIG. 3, toprovide additional removal or discharge elements 15 (FIG. 2), forexample between the transversely disposed and longitudinally disposedlaboratory benches 14. Under such circumstances, the stands or racks 14bcould be set up closely adjacent to each other at one side.

FIG. 4 shows another arrangement of a rail-like connecting device 11with working and standing position elements in the form of laboratorytables or benches 14a, grouped in an "island" configuration. Inparticular, four "islands" are formed, each consisting of two laboratorytables or benches 14a which butt against each other in a longitudinaldirection. At each end region of the connecting device 11a is an islanddisposed in a transverse direction, while in the middle region of theconnecting device 11a is an island disposed in parallel relationship tothe connecting device 11a, leaving a gangway 16, beneath and at bothsides of the connecting device 11a.

FIG. 5 shows a modified "island" configuration in which, instead of thegangway shown in FIG. 4, two additional laboratory benches 14a arepositioned beneath the middle region of the rail-like connecting device11.

FIG. 6 shows a further modification of an "island" configuration inwhich two islands are formed from six laboratory benches 14a. Theislands are positioned beneath the end regions of the rail-likeconnecting device 11 in such a way that there is an access gangway 18 ateach side of the connecting device 11. As shown in broken lines, removalelements 15 could also be arranged in the region of the access gangways18, beneath the rail-like connecting device 11a.

FIG. 7 shows another "island"-type configuration. In this case, tenlaboratory benches 14a are fitted together to form an island whichextends along the connecting device 11, wherein the island directlyoccupies the space beneath the connecting device 11, without provisionof a gangway.

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement of four rail-like connecting devices 11awhich are interconnected in the manner of a square ring and which arefixedly mounted in a working area, for example a laboratory room.Disposed beneath the four connecting devices 11a are connecting meansfor removal or discharge purposes, in the floor of the working area. Inthe case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the connecting region whichis defined by the square ring arrangement of connecting devices 11a andthe removal connections associated therewith in the floor, are made upby four "islands" which are composed of laboratory tables or benches14a, and, at the limb of the square ring which is at the bottom in FIG.8, by a "parallel configuration" which is composed of laboratory tablesor benches 14a, thereby forming a gangway 16. Removal elements 15 arealso arranged in a row with respect to the laboratory tables or benches14a in the parallel configuration and at the islands.

FIG. 9 shows a layout comprising two rail-like connecting devices 11a inan angular configuration, fixedly mounted in the working area. Removalor discharge connections are installed beneath the corner region of theangular arrangement 11, in the floor of the working area. The angulararrangement of the two rail-like connecting devices 11 is made up by twoparallel groups of laboratory benches or tables 14a, while additionalremoval or discharge elements 15 are incorporated at the corner of theconnecting devices 11a.

In FIG. 10, three rail-like connecting devices 11a are interconnected inan "H-arrangement" and are fixedly mounted in the respective workingarea. Removal or discharge connections are installed in the floor of theworking area beneath the "H-arrangement" of connecting devices 11a, inthe two regions in which the web of the "H-configuration" meets the legsthereof. Laboratory tables or benches 14a are freely set up and groupedeither in parallel sets, or as "islands". Removal or discharge elements15 are provided in the region of the junctions between the web and thelegs of the "H-configuration", and are connected to removal or dischargeconnections disposed in the floor. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11,two rail-like connecting devices 11a form a "T-arrangement" and arefixedly mounted substantially horizontally at a spacing from the floorwhich approximately corresponds to the height of a man. Removal ordischarge connections are installed in the floor of the working area inthe region where the two connecting devices 11a meet. "Islands" composedof laboratory tables or benches 14a are provided, as in the previousembodiments, as are discharge or removal elements 15 connected to thedischarge connections in the floor. Gangways 16 are formed as indicated,beneath and adjacent to the connecting device 11a, and a cantilevercarriage can be suspended beneath the connecting device 11a, beingmovable therealong.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Each and every one of the appended claims defines an aspect of theinvention which is separate and distinct from all others, andaccordingly it is intended that each claim be treated in this mannerwhen examined in the light of the prior art devices in any determinationof novelty or validity.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11 connecting device

11a rail-like connecting device

11b column-like connecting device

12 guides

13 cantilever carriage

14 working and standing position elements

14a a laboratory bench

14b rack or stand

15 removal element

16 gangway

17 carrier

18 access gangway

21 connecting element

22 electrical connecting device

23 connecting device

24 operating knobs

25 pressure indicator instrument

26 cover plate

27 items of equipment

28 working surface

29 filter

30 connecting element

31 connection

32 transverse bar member

33 electrical connecting element

34 adjusting device

35 indicator device

36 connections

37 working position lamp

38 lamp

A working plane

B floor

E removal plane

I removal means and installation connections

V supply plane

What is claimed is:
 1. Equipment for forming workstations adapted foruse on floor areas of laboratories, production locations, and testingand research facilities, said equipment comprising in combination:(a) aplurality of portable workbench elements adapted to rest on said floorareas, (b) a plurality of horizontally disposed connecting devicesseparate and apart from said workbench elements, for connection withsupplies for electrical energy and devices that handle fluid media, andfor use with communications and monitoring apparati, (c) said connectingdevices being arranged and fixedly mounted in a predetermined patterndistribution within a working space over said floor areas and beingdisposed in a substantially horizontal plane at a predetermined verticaldistance above said floor areas, (d) said connecting devices beingelongate and comprising conduit means (11, 11a, 11b) having adeterminate structural configuration and having supply devices (21, 22,23) for said electrical energy, for said fluid media, and for saidcommunications and monitoring apparati, said supply devices (21, 22, 23)being carried in the said conduit means (11, 11a, 11b), (e) saidworkbench elements being free to be placed on the said floor areas belowthe said connecting devices in any desired disposition andconfiguration, and in any desired position with respect to each otherand with respect to the said connecting devices, thereby to form a workfacility which is adaptable to various respective laboratory,production, test or research tasks, and (f) support means extendingupwardly from said connecting devices, for suspending the latter fromthe ceiling of the facility in which the workstations are located. 2.Equipment for forming workstations adapted for use on floor areas oflaboratories, production locations, and testing and research facilities,said equipment comprising in combination:(a) a plurality of portableworkbench elements adapted to rest on said floor areas, and (b) aplurality of horizontally disposed connecting devices separate and apartfrom said workbench elements, for connection with supplies forelectrical energy and devices that handle fluid media, and for use withcommunications and monitoring apparati, (c) said connecting devicesbeing arranged and fixedly mounted in a predetermined patterndistribution within a working space over said floor areas and beingdisposed in a substantially horizontal plane at a predetermined verticaldistance above said floor areas, (d) said connecting devices beingelongate and comprising conduit means (11, 11a, 11b) having adeterminate structural configuration and having supply devices (21, 22,23) for said electrical energy, for said fluid media, and for saidcommunications and monitoring apparati, said supply devices (21, 22, 23)being carried in the said conduit means (11, 11a, 11b), (e) saidworkbench elements being free to be placed on the said floor areas belowthe said connecting devices in any desired disposition andconfiguration, and in any desired position with respect to each otherand with respect to the said connecting devices, thereby to form a workfacility which is adaptable to various respective laboratory,production, test or research tasks, (f) said conduit means (11, 11a,11b) including substantially horizontally extending guides (12) underwhich the workbench elements (14) can be arranged.
 3. The invention asset forth in claim 1, and further including:(a) carriages (13) which aredisplaceable along the said guides (12).
 4. The invention as set forthin claim 1, and further including:(a) carriages (13) which arehorizontally displaceable along said guides (12), (b) said guides (12)being aligned in substantially parallel relationship to the said conduitmeans (11, 11a, 11b).